Rotary solenoid



1964 R. J. GANOWSKY 3,144,593

ROTARY SOLENOID Filed Dec. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Raymond J. Ganowsky,

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11, 1964 R. J. GANOWSKY 3,144,593

RDTARY souzuom Filed Dec. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Raymond J. Gonowsky,

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United States Patent M 3,144,593 ROTARY SOLENOID Raymond J. Ganowsky, 14711 Florita Road, La Mirada, Calif. Filed Dec. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 158,196 8 Claims. (Cl. 317165) This invention relates to electro-magnetic devices for producing rotary motion and more particularly to a rotary solenoid responsive to electric current for producing rotation of an output shaft forming a part thereof.

Devices for providing rotary motion in response to electrical actuation have been and are presently being used in a wide variety of applications. Typical of such uses is a stepping switch, which conventionally employs a rotary solenoid as its actuating mechanism. Many rotary solenoids exist in the prior art, however, each of the prior art devices is subject to disadvantages, which limit its utility and make its use relatively difiicult and restrictive.

In general, solenoids may be divided into two principal classes; plunger and clapper solenoids. A plunger solenoid has a cylindrical coil and an armature or plunger, which is pulled into the coil when the coil is electrically energized. Clapper solenoids generally have a hinged armature or clapper, which is pulled against the end of the coil rather than into the coil. Although plunger solenoids, in general, provide a longer-stroke, they only perform approximately half as much work as a clapper type for a given stroke. Thus, the magnetic efl'lciency of a plunger solenoid is less than the efliciency of the clapper solenoid. This is, in part, due to the fact that a plunger solenoid uses a relatively open magnetic circuit, that is, it has a relatively larger air gap than a corresponding clapper solenoid.

Prior art rotary solenoids have employed the plunger type solenoid. Since the present invention utilizes a clapper solenoid, it is therefore relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple to assemble, and efficient in operation. Thus, by the use of the clapper principle, the present invention overcomes many of the inherent disadvantages of prior art rotary solenoids.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved rotary solenoid responsive to electric current to produce an instantaneous rotary motion of predetermined angular displacement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary solenoid which produces a rotary motion of its output shaft without any accompanying linear motion of said shaft.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary solenoid which employs a single cam roller or follower and a single cam to convert from linear to rotary motion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide long life and maximum stability of the output shaft by using a relatively long output bearing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary solenoid which produces efficient operation in that actuation of the solenoid winding, forming part of the invention, produces a relatively large force on a movable armature.

Still another object of the present invention is that the movable armature forming part of the present invention does not rotate and that friction and inertia of the moving parts necessary to the operation of the invention, have been kept to a minimum.

3,144,593 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 Still another object of the present invention is that a better hermetic seal of the internal mechanism may be achieved because of the simplicity of the mechanical structure.

Still another object is that a relatively large mechanical advantage can be achieved on the output shaft forming part of the invention.

Still another object of the present invention is that an extremely long rotary stroke can be achieved if such is desired.

Briefly described, the novel and improved rotary solenoid described herein includes a movable armature hinged at one side thereof to operate as a clapper solenoid. Electrical actuation of the solenoid windings provides a movement of the armature or clapper which contains a cam mounted therein. An output shaft having a single cam roller or follower mounted thereon, and restrained against axial movement, is forced to rotate by the application of an axial force by the movable armature.

Further, more specific and additional objects will become apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention in cross-section.

FIG. 2 is the side elevational view of FIG. 1, showing a second stage in the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of the movable armature forming part of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the armature of FIG. 3, taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cam portion of the present invention.

FIG. 5a is a linear expansion of the cam shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view in cross-section section of a modified form or second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a portion of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 6, showing a return spring.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment of the present invention. An annular ring 10 composed of magnetizable material comprises a portion of the magnetic circuit and also serves as supporting structure for the movable portions of the present invention. A magnetic insert 12, also composed of magnetizable material, is attached to said annular ring 10 at one end thereof, by a screw thread 14. The magnetic insert 12 is cylindrical in shape along most of its length and is further provided with an extended cylindrical flange which is threaded as described above. The magnetic insert 12 contains a complex axial recess which comprises a series of juxtaposed cylindrical recesses, as will be described hereinafter. A first such recess 16 is bored along the axis of the magnetic insert 12, extending from the front of the instrument to a point within the magnetic insert 12. The recess 16 is adapted to receive a cylindrical bearing 18. The bearing 18, which is comprised of a relatively soft bearing material such as brass, is pressed into the recess 16 so that it will remain fixed with respect to the recess 16. The bearing 18 is adapted to receive a cylindrical shaft 20 which is free to rotate in the bearing 18. However, the shaft 20 is restrained from axial movement by a retaining snapring 22, which engages in the end of the recess 16.

A second cylindrical recess 24, of larger diameter than the recess 16, extends from one end of the recess 16 to a point relatively near the opposite end of the magnetic insert 12. The recess 24 contains a bearing surface or race portion 26, which is composed of a relatively hard material. The race portion 26 is engaged into the recess 24 forming a press fit with a portion of the magnetic insert 12 and abutting the end of the bearing 18. The bearing race portion 26 comprises a pair of cylinders, having different diameters, and is provided with an axial bore having a slightly larger diameter than the inner diameter of the bearing 18.

A third contiguous cylindrical recess 28, having a slightly larger diameter than the recess 24, extends from the recess 24 to the end of the magnetic insert 12. This recess is provided to ensure that the shaft 20, along with peripheral equipment mounted thereon, will be free to rotate.

The peripheral equipment mounted on the shaft comprises a cylindrical sleeve 30, slip fitted onto the shaft 20. The sleeve 30 has a cam roller or follower 32 mounted at a point on the circumference of the sleeve 30 in such a manner that the cam follower 32 is free to rotate. Adjacent the sleeve 30 and also mounted on the shaft 20 is a second ball bearing race portion 34, formed as a single piece with the sleeve 30. The race portion 34 is flanged at its outer circumference forming a cup shaped enclosure, along with the race portion 26, into which a plurality of ball bearings is inserted. The shaft 20 thus extends through the bearing 18, and the bearing race portions 26 and 34, along with the sleeve 34), which combine to act as a thrust bearing for the shaft 20. Although the shaft 20 is free to rotate with respect to the magnetic insert 12, the retaining snap ring 22 and the ball bearing race 26 restrain axial movement of the shaft 20.

The shape of the magnetic insert 12, which has been described above, provides a recess or well 36 in the shape of a cylinder. An insulating, non-magnetic support 38, which contains a solenoid winding 40 wound therein, is inserted into the recess 36. The solenoid winding 40 and its support 38 are held in place by a volume of plastic material 42 such as epoxy resin, which fills the cavity 36 and forms a smooth surface with the end of the magnetic insert 12. The solenoid winding 40 terminates in a pair of wires 44 to which electrical connection is made during the operation of the device.

FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the details of construction of the movable armature or clapper 46 forming part of the present invention. The armature 46 is roughly discshaped and may have a bevelled surface as shown. The armature 46 is mounted such that it is, in effect, hinged at one end, leaving the other end free to move. The armature 46 is mounted and hinged to the annular ring 10 by a cylindrical pin 48, which passes through a hole 50 at one end of the armature 46 into two holes in the annular ring 10. A slot 52 cut in a portion of the circumference of the armature 46 provides entry to the pair of wires 44.

A three-part cylindrical recess 54 is bored along the axis of the armature 46. A first portion of the recess 54, i.e., the portion contiguous the fiat (unbevelled) side of the armature 46, has the same diameter as the recess 28 in the magnetic insert 12, and is designed to allow clearance for the rotation of the shaft 20 and the roller 32. A second portion of the recess 54, adjacent the first portion of the recess 54, and having a smaller diameter than the first portion, is adapted to receive a cam 56. The details of construction of the cam 56 will be described below. A third portion of the recess 54, adjacent the second portion of the recess and extending to the bevelled surface of the armature 46, has a smaller diameter than the second portion of the recess 54 and is adapted to allow passage of the shaft 20 through the armature 46. The cam 56 is press fitted into the recess 54 such that it is restrained from movement relative to the armature 46.

The details of construction of the cam 56 are shown in FIG. 5. The cam 56 is essentially formed from a hollow cylinder by cutting away a portion of the wall thereof. The cut-away portion which forms the cam surface, comprises three portions. The two end portions are roughly arcs of circles having diameters equal to the diameter of the cam roller 32. The center portion is a linear or flat surface having a rise corresponding to the desired travel of the armature 46.

The operation of the armature 46 and the shaft 20 is as follows:

The initial operating position of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2, in which the armature 46 is shown extended on its hinge 48. When the solenoid winding 49 is actuated, i.e., when current flows through the winding 40, the magnetic action of the solenoid winding 46 causes a force to be exerted on the armature 46 which tends to close the armature to the position shown in FIG. 1. Since the cam roller or follower 32 is engaged in the cam 56 at that portion of the cam 56 shown in FIG. 2 (point a in FIG. 5a), and since the shaft 20, hearing the cam roller 32, is free to rotate but not free to move in an axial direction, closure of the armature 46 to the position shown in FIG. 1 will result in a turning of the shaft 24) until the cam roller 32 has arrived at the position shown in FIG. 1 (point 11 in FIG. 5a), providing the desired rotation of the output shaft 20. The annular ring 10, the magnetic insert 12, and the movable armature 46 comprise a magnetic circuit which applies a force to the armature 46 when electric current is applied to the solenoid winding 40.

This force is relatively large, considering the number of ampere-turns supplied by the solenoid winding 46. As is well known, the magnetic field surrounding a solenoid extends through the bore of the solenoid and round its outer surface to form a closed loop. In the present design, the existence of magnetizable material at almost all points along this magnetic path provides an optimum magnetic field. In addition the number and size of the necessary air gaps has been held to a minimum. Further, the use of the clapper arrangement of the armature 46, i.e., the extension of the armature 46 beyond the bore of the solenoid, provides additional magnetic advantage. This is due to the fact that not only is the solenoidal field utilized, but the fields existing at the ends of the solenoid winding 40 are also utilized. This type of device has been found to yield a relatively high ratio of force supplied to the output shaft 20, per ampere-turn supplied by the solenoid winding 40.

As has been described above, a relatively small cam roller may be utilized in the design of the present invention. This provides an improved mechanical advantage at the output shaft 20, also providing relatively larger forces at the output.

A second embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 6, is different from the first embodiment, already described, only in the design of the movable armature 58. As can be seen from a comparison of FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the movable armature 46 extends tothe outer circumference of the solenoid winding 40 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, whereas the movable armature 58, shown in FIG. 6, extends to the outer circumference of the annular ring 10. Thus, the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 provides a further utilization of the clapper feature of the present invention.

When the apparatus embodying the present invention has attained the operating position shown in FIG. 1, it may be desirable to provide a spring return of the apparatus to the initial position shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 shows the installation of such a spring return to either of the embodiments of FIG. 1 or FIG. 6. A cylindrical well 60 may be provided in the magnetic insert 12 concentric with the shaft 2t). The shaft 20 is flattened at that portion adjacent the retaining ring 22, and a coil spring 62 is attached to the shaft 20 at the flattened portion. The opposite end of the spring 62 is connected to a pin 64 mounted in the magnetic insert 12. The spring 62 is so arranged that it provides a force tending to return the shaft 20 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2. In removing magnetic material from the magnetic insert 12, material must not be taken which would tend to cause a restriction of the operating magnetic field. A pair of threaded holes 66 is also provided in the magnetic insert 12 so that the present invention may be attached to other apparatus as desired.

While the spring 62 has been shown installed on the front of the present invention, it may actually be used on the back of the device. Alternatively, other return devices may be used.

There have thus been disclosed, several embodiments of a rotary solenoid which provides the advantages over the prior art listed above. It should be understood, however, that while the invention has been described with great particularity, other embodiments differing only in detail may also be made within the letter and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention should therefore be measured by the breadth of the appended claims in which,

It is claimed:

1. A rotary solenoid for providing angular displacement in response to electric current applied thereto comprising,

supporting structure,

a solenoid winding mounted in said supporting structure and responsive to electric current for producing a magnetic field surrounding said winding,

a movable armature responsive to said magnetic field having one end thereof forming a hinged attachment with said supporting structure and having a free end, said free end adapted to move relative to said solenoid winding in accordance with said magnetic field,

an output shaft coupled to said armature and rotatably mounted in said supporting structure, said output shaft responsive to movement of said armature for rotating in accordance therewith.

2. A rotary solenoid for providing angular displacement in response to electric current applied thereto comprising,

a solenoid winding responsive to electric current for producing a magnetic field surrounding said winding,

supporting structure adapted to receive said solenoid winding, enclosing said winding on both sides and one end thereof, said supporting structure composed of magnetizable material,

a movable armature composed of magnetizable material mounted adjacent the unenclosed end of said solenoid winding and responsive to said magnetic field, said armature having one end thereof forming a hinged attachment with said supporting structure and having a free end, said free end adapted to move relative to said solenoid winding in accordance with said magnetic field, said movement of said free end providing an essentially linear motion of a portion of said armature,

motion conversion means coupled to the linearly moving portion of said armature for providing rotary movement in response to said linear motion,

an output shaft coupled to said motion conversion means and responsive to said rotary movement for providing angular displacement in accordance therewith.

3. A rotary solenoid for providing angular displacement in response to electric current applied thereto comprising,

a cylindrical solenoid winding responsive to electric current for producing a magnetic field surrounding said winding,

cylindrical supporting structure adapted to receive said solenoid winding, enclosing said winding on both sides and one end thereof, said supporting structure composed of magnetizable material,

a cylindrical movable armature composed of magnetizable material mounted adjacent the unenclosed end of said solenoid winding and responsive to said magnetic field, said armature having one end thereof forming a hinged attachment with said supporting structure and having a free end, said free end adapted to move relative to said solenoid winding in accordance with said magnetic field, said movement of said free end providing an essentially linear motion of the center portion of said armature,

motion conversion means coupled to the center portion of said armature for providing rotary movement in response to said linear motion,

an output shaft coupled to said motion conversion means and responsive to said rotary movement for providing angular displacement in accordance therewith.

4. A rotary solenoid for providing angular displacement in response to electric current applied thereto comprising,

a cylindrical solenoid winding responsive to electric current for producing a magnetic field surrounding said winding,

cylindrical supporting structure adapted to receive said solenoid winding, enclosing said winding on both sides and one end thereof, said supporting structure composed of magnetizable material and having an axis,

a cylindrical movable armature composed of magnetizable material mounted adjacent the unenclosed end of said solenoid winding and responsive to said magnetic field, said armature having one end thereof forming a hinged attachment with said supporting structure and having a free end, said free end adapted to move relative to said solenoid winding in accordance with said magnetic field, said movement of said free end providing an essentially linear motion of the center portion of said armature,

a cylindrical cam, mounted in the center portion of said armature and movable therewith, said cam having a contact surface,

a cam follower in engagement with said contact surface, and adapted to rotate in a circle about the axis of said supporting structure in response to said linear motion,

an output shaft coupled to said cam follower and rotatable therewith for providing angular displacement in accordance with the rotation of said cam follower.

5. A rotary solenoid for providing angular displacement in response to electric current applied thereto comprising,

a cylindrical solenoid winding responsive to electric current for producing a magnetic field surrounding said winding,

cylindrical supporting structure adapted to receive said solenoid winding, enclosing said winding on both sides and one end thereof, said supporting structure composed of magnetizable material and having a cylindrical recess therein, the axis of said recess coinciding with the axis of said cylindrical supporting structure,

a cylindrical movable armature composed of magnetizable material mounted adjacent the unenclosed end of said solenoid winding and responsive to said magnetic field, said armature having one end thereof forming a hinged attachment with said supporting structure and having a free end, said free end adapted to move relative to said solenoid winding in accordance with said magnetic field, said movement of said free end providing an essentially linear motion of the center portion of said armature,

a cylindrical cam, mounted in the center portion of said armature and movable therewith, said cam having a contact surface,

a cam follower in engagement with said contact surface and adapted to rotate in a circle about the axis of said supporting structure in response to said linear motion,

an output shaft mounted in said cylindrical recess in said cylindrical supporting structure and coupled to said cam follower and rotatable therewith, for providing angular displacement in accordance with the rotation of said cam follower.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which said output shaft is restrained from movement along the axis of said cylindrical supporting structure.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, in Which the diameter of said cylindrical movable armature extends to the outer diameter of said cylindrical solenoid Winding.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the diameter of said cylindrical movable armature extends to the outer diameter of said cylindrical supporting structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,989,871 Staub et a1. June 27, 1961 

1. A ROTARY SOLENOID FOR PROVIDING ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT IN RESPONSE TO ELECTRIC CURRENT APPLIED THERETO COMPRISING, SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, A SOLENOID WINDING MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIVE TO ELECTRIC CURRENT FOR PRODUCING A MAGNETIC FIELD SURROUNDING SAID WINDING, A MOVABLE ARMATURE RESPONSIVE TO SAID MAGNETIC FIELD HAVING ONE END THEREOF FORMING A HINGED ATTACHMENT WITH SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND HAVING A FREE END, SAID FREE END ADAPTED TO MOVE RELATIVE TO SAID SOLENOID WINDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID MAGNETIC FIELD, AN OUTPUT SHAFT COUPLED TO SAID ARMATURE AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, SAID OUTPUT SHAFT RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMATURE FOR ROTATING IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH. 